Senior School

After months in COVID-isolation it has been a pleasure this week to see our students enjoying their time with their teachers in classes and Tutor Groups, playing (socially distanced) volleyball in the Sports Centre, and picnicking together on the lawns. Having worked hard these past many weeks to pivot successfully to online teaching and learning our teachers and students have transitioned successfully back to the classroom. Once again I am impressed by the resilience and adaptability of our community. 

While it has been a source of joy for many to be reunited with peers and friends, we recognise that for many of our students (and perhaps some of our staff), after months of isolation at home, the return to face-to-face teaching and learning can bring its own challenges. I encourage students experiencing such challenges to reach out to their Tutors and Heads of House. Similarly, I encourage parents who become aware that their children are experiencing an unusual degree of anxiety in this season to reach out to talk with their children about social anxiety. For information on anxiety and how to speak with young people about it please visit the Black Dog Institute, by clicking here.

Finally, it appears that, for many of our students having spent the winter months indoors, the warm sunshine of this past week has brought about the challenge of sunburn. For the sake of COVID-safety we are insisting that students spend their recess and lunch breaks outdoors in the open air. They are joined in their picnics by most of our staff. I encourage students to wear their School-hats and to apply sunscreen. As the Cancer Council campaign of these past many years suggests … Slip! Slop! Slap! 

Mr Owen Laffin

Deputy Head - Head of Senior School